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How to change your Instagram username

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It’s much easier than it is on other platforms

By Monica Chin / @mcsquared96

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Some social platforms limit the number of times you can change your username, while others don’t let you do it at all. Instagram is a username free-for-all; you can alter your Instagram handle whenever you want, as many times as you want — within certain limits.

There’s a difference between your username and your display name. The display name is on your profile below your avatar. It doesn’t need to be unique to you, and it can contain emoji and special characters. (And yes, it can also be changed — up to two times within 14 days.)

Your username, on the other hand, appears at the top of your profile and at the end of your profile’s URL. It needs to be unique to you. It’s also subject to more restrictions: it can’t be longer than 30 characters and can only contain letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. If you choose a new username, you can change it back within 14 days — if nobody else has claimed it.

Whether you’ve changed your real-life name, you’re upgrading to a more professional username, or you’re just bored of your current moniker, you can change your handle in less than a minute. Here’s how.

Change your username in the Instagram app

First, log in to your Instagram account on the iOS or Android app. If you have more than one account, double-check that you’re logged in to the one you’re trying to change.

  • Tap your avatar icon in the bottom-right corner to go to your profile
  • Tap Edit profile under your bio
  • Tap the Username field and type in your new handle
  • Tap the blue checkmark in the upper right corner.

1/3

Tap your avatar icon.

If you want to change your display name, type in the Name field instead.

Change your username on a computer

If you prefer, you can change your username with the desktop version of Instagram.

  • In a web browser, go to Instagram.com
  • If you’re already logged in, you’ll be prompted to continue with your account. If you’re not already logged in, enter your username and password.
  • Click your profile icon on the right side of the homepage and select Profile
  • Click Edit profile next to your username

1/4

Sign in to your web-based Instagram account.

Again, if you make a mistake during this process or decide you don’t like your new handle after all, you can go back to your old handle within 14 days. After that time, you may still be able to revert, but your old handle may have been taken by another user.

If your username is taken.

..

As mentioned before, you can’t have the same username as someone else, and it’s first come, first served. If your chosen handle is taken, Instagram will let you know after you press the checkmark on mobile or Submit on the web.

If the name you want isn’t available, try adding numbers or underscores to make it unique to you.

Also, keep checking back. Your desired username may become available in the future. The current owner may change or delete their profile, and Instagram occasionally removes fake accounts.

Update June 21st, 2022, 2:10PM ET: This article was originally published on February 5th, 2020, and has been updated to account for changes in the app.

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How to Change Your Instagram Username or Display Name

  • Instagram identifies you in two ways — using your display name and username. You can change either of these names at any time.
  • To change your Instagram names, go to your profile page on the web, or in a mobile app, and choose to edit your profile. 
  • You can change your display name to anything, but the username needs to be unique. Instagram will warn you if it's already in use.     
  • This story is part of Business Insider's Guide to Instagram.

Many social media platforms don't let you change your username once the account is set up, since it's a basic identifying element of the account. 

That's why it's a little surprising that Instagram lets you change it at any time. You can change both your display name and username, either from the iPhone or Android mobile apps, or your computer in a web browser. 

Keep in mind that while you can change your display name to anything — it doesn't need to be unique — your username is different. 

Your username can't already be in use by someone else, and Instagram will alert you if your desired username isn't available. You won't be able to save your changes until you choose a unique username.  

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How to change your Instagram name in the app

1. Start the Instagram app.

2. Tap your account icon in the bottom right of the screen to go to your profile page. 

To change your name, tap "Edit Profile" on the profile page. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. If you have more than one account configured in the app, tap the account name at the top of the screen and choose the account you want to change.

Be sure you select the right account to change. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. Tap "Edit Profile."

5. On the Edit Profile page, tap the field next to Name or Username and type your changes. When you're ready to save your changes, tap "Done."

You can edit the Name and Username fields on the Edit Profile page. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to change your Instagram name in a web browser

1. In a web browser, navigate to Instagram.com. 

2. Click the account icon at the top right of the screen.

3. Click "Edit Profile."

4. Click in the Name or Username field and type your changes. When you're ready to save your changes, click "Submit."

You can change your name and username in a web browser as well. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

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Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

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How to change the first name, last name and nickname on Instagram via phone: iPhone and Android

Author of the article:

Alina, SMM specialist

Time to read:

7 minutes

2050

90 through the tab: "Edit profile". The social network has restrictions on the day when you can return your previous nickname.

Content

  • What is the difference between a nickname and a name on Instagram
  • How to change the nickname from the phone
    • from the computer version
  • edit the name and surname on Instagram
    • Unusual fonts for the name
      • if the characters are gone or are not displayed
  • why instagram does not allow the instagram: new rules of 2022

What is the difference between a nickname and a name on Instagram

Expert opinion

Alina

SMM specialist, design, promote and maintain pages on Instagram

Ask a question

In the "Edit profile" section, the user will see two items: "Name" and "Nickname". In the first one, you can specify any characters, use the Russian and English layout. In the second - only English letters, with a minimum number of available characters.

affect
Name: Name/surname: Nickname:
Editing Once every 14 days Once a month, within two weeks, you can return the old
Symbols Any, including emoticons Underscore dot
What does Search for a user by his data Is a login, used in notes, you can find a person
Size Up to 30 characters Up to 30

You can change your nickname on Instagram, but then the next time you log in, the user will have to specify a new login. The nickname is also indicated in the address bar, with which others can quickly go to the profile and see the entries. nine0003

How to change your nickname from the phone

To change your nickname on Instagram from the mobile version, you need to go to editing. After registration, a change to any other is available, without reference to time. And when creating an account, the user can edit his nickname. Using the name of the page that matches with another account is prohibited. This is a unique identifier, so when choosing a combination, you need to follow the adjacent “red cross” sign.

How to change on an Android phone:

  1. Go to Instagram - click on the button: "My account".
  2. "Edit profile" next to the description - Nickname.
  3. Enter a new nickname - Save.

With iOS, the mechanism of action is the same:

  1. Go to Instagram on iPhone - click: "Edit profile".
  2. Enter nickname - confirm and save.

If it matches any other, the system will show the icon and the changes will not be saved. In this case, the user can add an underscore, a period, or a number to the combination. nine0003

From the computer version

You can also change your Instagram username from the computer version. The page owner needs to go to the profile using the web form and use the same section.

There is no advantage for the versions, except for changing the "First and last name". In this case, the user can choose original fonts without installing third-party applications on the smartphone.

How to change:

  1. Go to Instagram and log in from the PC version. nine0020
  2. Edit - Username.
  3. Enter a new nickname - Save.

The data will also be changed on the mobile version. For the web format, the same rules apply: next time you can only change within 30 days .

Editing the first and last name on Instagram

To change the last name on Instagram, you need to open "Edit" and enter your data. Moreover, they may not correspond to reality. For business page owners, this is an option for specifying the name of your store/showroom or positioning your blog. Considering the maximum number of characters, you need to think over the name as capaciously as possible. nine0003

How to change:

  1. Edit profile - First and last name.
  2. Enter your details - Save.

Unlike a nickname, there is nothing wrong with having the same name as someone else. In addition to standard characters, the profile owner can use non-standard fonts, emoticons. You can enter in Russian and English.

Fancy fonts for the name

To make the page name memorable and interesting, the user can install an application for original fonts. nine0003

TOP 3 utilities:

  • Fontify;
  • Fonts for Instagram;
  • I Fonts.

They have approximately the same list of fonts and functions: you need to install, enter the desired word, select a font and add it to your biography.

Make a custom font with I Fonts:

  1. Go to the Play Market - download and install.
  2. Open - Start Create.
  3. Select from above: "Text Bio" - enter the name.
  4. Specify font - save to smartphone. nine0020

Next, you need to go to Instagram and select: "Edit profile". In the section: "First and last name" you need to insert a new text.

If symbols are missing or not displayed

Symbols can disappear or not be displayed in two cases: if the selected font is not supported by the social network or the user has not saved the changes made.

What to do if characters are missing:

  • check the "Biography" section from different devices;
  • try other fonts;
  • Restart the application.

Often, the problem occurs with the display of the font on different devices. Characters that are displayed on iOS may not be visible on Android. And instead of the text, empty squares will appear, which can only be read from the computer version.

Expert opinion

Alina

SMM specialist, I design, promote and maintain pages on Instagram

Ask a question

Errors also appear when entering italic text. Therefore, among the available options, it is better to choose standard or resized ones. nine0003

Why Instagram won't let you change your nickname: new rules for 2022

New rules have been introduced on the social network to change the first name, last name or nickname. They concern the timing for editing. If before 2021 users could change their nickname at any time, then after the introduction of new requirements in 2022 - only times a month . The second rule concerns the recovery period - in within 14 days . During this time, no one can take this nickname, and the original owner can restore the previously selected option. nine0003

If you try to change your nickname before the end of the month, the "Done" button will not be available. Therefore, the user must carefully choose the name of the profile.

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How to change your username on Instagram and what should you keep in mind?

Online life has become an integral part of our modern life. We post everything on social networks, communicate with friends or business partners there and just have a good time, getting to know the world. The problem is that many of us invented our nicknames or, as they are also called, “usernames” (id) many years ago and a lot has changed since then. Someone just wants to change their name, and someone understands that it’s already a little embarrassing to be the “Dark Lord of Algord”, becoming the head of a large company. As a result, the names have to be changed, but this can not be done in all social networks. We have been asked several times how you can change your username on Instagram. Due to the fact that this topic interests people so much, I decided to prepare answers to questions and tell you how to do it in different ways. nine0003

Instagram has become an integral part of our lives, but is it possible to somehow change your profile in it?

Contents

  • 1 Why is it so hard to come up with a nickname
  • 2 How to change your Instagram username from your phone
  • 3 How to understand your Instagram username on a computer
  • 4 Why I changed my username and it didn't change
  • 5 Is it possible to change the username on Instagram

Why is it so difficult to come up with a nickname

The problem of finding a good nickname is further complicated by the fact that all good names are usually already taken. Putting your name on your profile name has been simply unrealistic for many years now, as your full namesakes have already snapped everything up, unless you are “Prolvryao Rlvyoary Ivanovich”. In this case, you have a chance to put your first and last name in the profile name, but you also need to check.

Even nicknames from a set of letters are often busy, because people, no matter how unique they try to seem, still think very much the same in their mass. As a result, we have what we have, and old nicknames sometimes seem stupid. I myself have a couple of old registered email addresses that I stopped using only because at my age and social position it is somehow not solid, although I thought up their names for a long time, and then they seemed cool to me . nine0003

How to change username on Instagram from phone

Exactly the same situation with Instagram. Often a nickname needs to be changed due to a change in surname, a change in life priorities, or simply a change in the name of the company if it is a business account.

What features of iOS 14 are copied from Android

The easiest way to change the name is the one done through the phone. If you have already come up with a new name for yourself, the process of changing it will take literally 10-15 seconds. True, there are several rules regarding the choice of a name that must be followed. nine0003

What your Instagram username should be:

  • Name must be 30 characters or less
  • Name must contain only letters, numbers, dots, and underscores (no spaces)
  • Name must not contain profanity

Because Instagram in the vast majority of cases is used from mobile devices, then it is most logical to edit the name from them. To do this, you must first launch the application, then open your profile by clicking on the picture with the avatar in the lower right corner. When the profile opens, you just need to click on "Edit Profile" at the top of the screen and all that remains is to change the name. To do this, in the window that opens, click on the appropriate item. nine0003

This is how you can change the profile name from your phone.

Actually, that's all! The main thing is to remember the rules for writing the name that are given above, and start the procedure when you know exactly what name you want to change to the one you already have.

How to understand the Instagram username on a computer

There is another way to change the Instagram username - through the browser. In fact, it is as simple as with a smartphone, just this way will be more convenient for some. nine0003

What we appreciate in smartphones and what Google Pixel owners are not ready to give up.

For this name change, go to Instagram. com and sign in to your account. Next, click on your avatar in the upper right corner of the screen. When the page opens, click the "Edit Profile" button next to your username at the top of the page. That's almost all. It remains only to enter the username in accordance with the rules above and click "Submit" at the bottom of the screen. nine0003

Opening your profile...

... and editing it.

Please note that unlike changing your Instagram username in the app, you will not receive a warning that the desired username is already in use. Instead, a small popup will tell you that the username is not available when you click the submit button.

Huawei introduced a service for installing WhatsApp, Instagram and other prohibited applications

Why did I change my username and it didn't change

Sometimes users change their username on Instagram but see that it hasn't changed. This is not a problem and is not worth worrying about. The rest of the users who visit your page will still see the new name, it's just that in your case you may encounter a cache, which is why it happens. The problem will be solved by itself after some time - from several minutes to several hours.

Can I change my username on Instagram

The username can and should be changed if there is an urgent need for it. You just need to remember a few features and be prepared for them.

When you change your username, you need to understand why you are doing it.

Firstly, your old name will be freed immediately, and if someone wants to take it at that moment, he will do it without any problems, and you will not be able to roll back. Sometimes it can even be picked up by bots that collect all the beautiful names for resale. All services struggle with such a manifestation of “entrepreneurship”, but sometimes bots still crawl through. nine0003

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Secondly, we must remember that it will no longer be possible to find you by your old name in the format “@username”.

Learn more